How to Effectively Receive Feedback At Work

July 22, 2012

3 min read

Most of us dread feedback. It’s probably because the only time we hear about how we’re doing at work is when a problem arises. A lot of managers don’t give daily or weekly feedback and this is a bad thing. Hence the reason why you need to make your employees feel appreciated so they know they are doing a good job when they are. Only giving feedback during quarter evaluations doesn’t give employees the opportunity to keep improving on a regular basis. We all need feedback at work, and we dread it because it may turn out to be negative. Even the most criticizing feedback can be good for you in some way, though. You just need to learn how to effectively receive feedback, the good and the bad. If you show your appreciation for it, you’ll keep receiving it and build a strong relationship with your employer. If you don’t get feedback that often, take the time to ask your boss how you’re doing. Use these tips to effectively receive feedback to make the conversation run smoother.

The first thing you want to do when you’re receiving feedback is to be a good listener. The negative feedback may sting you a bit, but don’t let that make you withdraw from the conversation. Let all of the information sink in first. Good listeners pay attention to what’s being said and use their facial expressions and body language to encourage the person speaking to keep talking. Don’t cross your arms defensively. Maintain a face of composure and maintain eye contact.

To ensure that you really were listening, in your responses you should summarize what was said and reflect on what was said as well. If you don’t agree with their judgments, don’t touch on it then. When you say you disagree with what they’re saying you’re being defensive and not taking in their feedback. Reflect on what they had to say. If it’s negative, such as them telling you you have missed some deadlines, don’t immediately bring up excuses. Consider their position. They’re your boss and they count on you to turn your work in on time. If you can’t do that, then you aren’t being an effective member of the work team. Recognize that you have missed deadlines, or any other negative feedback they may have given you, and if you can do it on the spot, think of a way to improve.

The point is to have this be a conversation. If your only response to feedback is a simple “OK” your boss is going to take this as a sign that you really can’t take feedback or don’t care. Show your appreciation for whatever type of feedback you receive. Tell them how much you appreciate it. Chances are you will receive good and bad feedback in the future, but don’t look at bad feedback as a bad thing. Look at it as a challenge you need to overcome and once you do you’ll become a more productive member of the team. The good feedback is a major confidence boost. Write it on a post-it and stick it on your wall. If you’re ever feeling down or having a tough day at work, just look at your positive feedback for a boost.

Hanna Guerrero

Hannah is an intern writer here at Spark Hire. She is from the northern suburbs in Chicago and is currently studying journalism at DePaul University. She has always had a passion for writing which is why Journalism has proven to be the perfect career for her. She has written for the DePaulia Online on various topics such as fashion, music, movies and television. She loves living in Chicago because it offers exciting events to write stories on. In her free time she enjoys going to music concerts, watching movies with friends, cooking vegetarian food and walking her adorable Cocker Spaniel Coco.

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